Storylines
DE LA SALLE ON TOP BUT UNDER A CLOUD
There is no team in the Bay Area more loaded with talent than De La Salle.
But will the Spartans overcome a self-imposed five-game suspension to start the season for what DLS called violations of school policy, team rules and code of conduct?
That’ll be the early storyline for the Concord powerhouse.
Coming off a NorCal Division I championship, the Spartans will be led by the Bay Area’s consensus top player in Stanford-bound infielder Tyler Spangler. The No. 11 rated prospect in this year’s MLB draft hit .430 with 40 RBIs and an NCS-leading 10 home runs. He came up clutch in every big moment for the Concord school last season and will look to win back-to-back titles to close out his senior year.
Senior returners Zach Tchejeyan, Bubba Vargas, Sam Lakey and Matthew Curran round up a lineup that averaged nearly eight runs per game last season, and the Spartans are just as formidable on the mound.
Stanford commit Graham Schlicht will lead a rotation that includes St. Mary’s-bound pitcher Brandon Kleyman and all-league selection Roman Bartosh. Schlicht went 11-0 and had a 0.67 ERA in 2025.
De La Salle will be the favorite to win its 10th NCS Division I title and fourth CIF NorCal title in the last five years.
WHO COMES OUT OF THE WCAL?
St. Ignatius pitcher Archer Horn is a Stanford commit and one of the top MLB draft prospects in the upcoming class. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)Like most years, the West Catholic Athletic League has the deepest collection of talent in the Bay Area.
Defending league champion Serra returns another loaded roster led by Texas Tech commit William Walbridge, Duke-bound outfielder Aaron Minton, all-league selection Ponoma Pitzer and highly-touted freshman Michael Ohman.
St. Francis will seek to capitalize on a solid season in which the Lancers exceeded all expectations. Senior catcher Gino Cappellazzo will lead the Mountain View school after finishing with a team-best 19 RBIs and a .318 batting average last season. Stanford-bound junior Jack Leeper, Pepperdine commit Tanner Wall, John Hopkins signee Ian McMahon and standout shortstop Landon King round a loaded roster led by coach Erik Wagle.
St. Ignatius star Archer Horn was more than solid last season, hitting .352 and seven home runs. The Stanford commit and touted MLB draft prospect will be joined by Nevada commit DJ Delaney and standout senior AJ Wineinger.
After a stellar year in 2025, Valley Christian will have a young group led by senior Nathan Choi. The Warriors have won at least 20 games for the last eight seasons under longtime coach John Diatte.
EXTRA INNINGS
Granada coach Corrigan Willis is expected to have another solid team at the Livermore school in 20026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)– Granada, the 2024 NorCal Division I champions, had an abrupt end to its season last year as the Matadors lost to Casa Grande in the NCS quarterfinals. But don’t count out the Livermore school this year. Its roster includes right-handed pitcher Braden Makley, senior infielder Taelin Alberts, two-sport star Jack Badger and senior Tyler Palma.
– Berkeley returns two all-Bay Area News Group honorees in pitcher Quinton Hill and C/1B Akanni Owodunni. Hill is a hard thrower with pitches reaching the 90-mph range with ease. Owodunni had six home runs with a .369 batting average last year.
– South San Francisco will aim to notch its third consecutive 20-win season with do-it-all senior Giovanni Bernal leading the way. Bernal finished with 47 RBIs to go with a .398 batting average and 19 extra-base hits in 2025. He also went 4-1 as a pitcher with 2.26 ERA and 69 strikeouts.
Players to watch
Giovanni Bernal, 3B/P, South San Francisco, senior
One of the CCS’s top run producers in 2025, finishing with 47 RBIs to go with a .398 batting average and 19 extra-base hits.
Gino Cappellazzo, C, St. Francis, senior
All-Bay Area News Group honorable mention selection led the Lancers with 19 RBIs last season, to go with a .318 batting average.
Vince Della Santina, OF/P, Clayton Valley, senior
The Cal commit received first-team all-Bay Area News Group and all-league honors in 2025, when he hit .382, had 13 extra-base hits and stole 16 bases.
Chayce Formosa, OF/P, Liberty, junior
Bay Valley Athletic League MVP and second-team all-Bay Area News Group in 2025. Hit .451 with 18 RBIs. Helped lead Liberty to a league title.
Jack Freehill, INF, Menlo School, senior
Columbia commit received second-team all-Bay Area News Group and Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division co-player of the year recognition in 2025 after hitting .354 with 35 RBIs and two home runs for the NorCal Division IV champs.
Michael Golden, P/SS, Swett, junior
Finished his sophomore season with 113 strikeouts (third in the NCS) in 73 innings and a 2.88 ERA.
Quinton Hill, OF/P, Berkeley, junior
Hit .452 as a sophomore last season with 33 hits and 14 RBIs, earning all-Bay Area News Group honorable mention recognition.
Archer Horn, INF/P, St. Ignatius, senior
First-team all-Bay Area News Group and all-WCAL in 2025 after hitting .352 and seven home runs. Two-way prospect. Stanford commit is rated the No. 53 prospect in the 2026 draft by MLB.com.
Beau Musser, INF, Los Gatos, senior
Received all-Bay Area News Group honorable mention recognition after leading the Wildcats with a .379 batting average, to go with 12 extra-base hits.
Akanni Owodunni, C/1B, Berkeley, senior
Among returning players in the NCS, only De La Salle’s Tyler Spangler (10) hit more home runs last season than Owodunni (six). Finished with a .369 batting average.
JJ Robinson, OF, Pittsburg, senior
BYU commit hit .351 with 12 extra-base hits, including three home runs, and 18 RBIs last season while receiving all-Bay Area News Group second-team and all-league honors.
Graham Schlicht, P, De La Salle, senior
Went 11-0 with a 0.67 ERA as a junior last season, helping De La Salle win NCS and NorCal championships. Struck out 99 and walked just 14.
Tyler Spangler, INF, De La Salle, senior
Stanford commit is rated the No. 11 prospect in the 2026 draft by MLB.com. In 33 games last season, he hit .430 with 40 RBIs and an NCS-leading 10 home runs. Received first-team all-Bay Area News Group and EBAL offensive player of the year honors.
Ethan Williams, P, Los Gatos, senior
First-team all-Bay Area News Group recognition in 2025. Finished with a 0.89 ERA and won all seven of his starts. Also received all-Santa Clara Valley Athletic League honors.
Morgan Winfield, P/1B, Sequoia, senior
Was among the home run leaders in the CCS last season with six. Finished with a .380 batting average and 29 RBIs. Listed as 6-2, 244 pounds.
Bay Area News Group preseason Top 20
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 DE LA SALLE (29-4)
Final 2025 ranking: 1
How it finished in 2025: Beat College Park 11-2 to capture the North Coast Section Division I title. Defeated Serra 5-4 to win the NorCal Division I crown.
No. 2 ST. FRANCIS (22-11)
Final 2025 ranking: 7
How it finished in 2025: Lost to Yuba City 3-2 in the NorCal Division II championship game.
No. 3 VALLEY CHRISTIAN (25-8-1)
Final 2025 ranking: 3
How it finished in 2025: Lost to St. Mary’s-Stockton 4-3 in the NorCal Division I semifinals.
No. 4 COLLEGE PARK (17-12)
Final 2025 ranking: 6
How it finished in 2025: Lost to Serra 2-1 in the first round of the NorCal Division I playoffs.
No. 5 ST. IGNATIUS (17-10-2)
Final 2025 ranking: 8
How it finished in 2025: Lost to St. Francis 2-1 in the first round of the CCS Division I playoffs.
No. 6 SERRA (28-7)
Final 2025 ranking: 2
How it finished in 2025: Beat Valley Christian 3-2 in the Central Coast Section Division I championship game. Lost to De La Salle 5-4 in the NorCal Division I finals.
No. 7 LOS GATOS (25-6)
Final 2025 ranking: 4
How it finished in 2025: Lost to Serra 3-0 in the NorCal Division I semifinals.
No. 7 GRANADA (22-6)
Final 2025 ranking: 5
How it finished in 2025: Beat De La Salle 5-1 in the East Bay Athletic League championship. Lost to Casa Grande 3-2 in the NCS Division I quarterfinals.
No. 9 BELLARMINE (17-14)
Final 2025 ranking: 9
How it finished in 2025: Beat Valley Christian 3-0 in the West Catholic Athletic League championship. Lost to Los Gatos 3-0 in the first round of the CCS Division I playoffs.
No. 10 CLAYTON VALLEY (18-8)
Final 2025 ranking: 12
How it finished in 2025: Lost to College Park 4-1 in the NCS Division I quarterfinals.
No. 11 FOOTHILL (21-8)
Final 2025 ranking: 10
How it finished in 2025: Lost to Casa Grande 6-3 in the NCS Division I third-place game.
No. 12 ACALANES (18-11-1)
Final 2025 ranking: 11
How it finished in 2025: Beat Rancho Cotate 7-1 to win the NCS Division II championship. Lost to St. Francis 2-0 in the NorCal Division II semifinals.
No. 13 HERITAGE (19-6)
Final 2025 ranking: 14
How it finished in 2025: Lost to College Park 4-3 in the first round of the NCS Division I playoffs.
No. 14 LIBERTY (17-8)
Final 2025 ranking: 15
How it finished in 2025: Lost to Foothill 8-2 in the first round of the NCS Division I playoffs.
No. 15 BENICIA (17-9)
Final 2025 ranking: 13
How it finished in 2025: Lost to Foothill 10-4 in the NCS Division II quarterfinals.
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Final 2025 ranking: 16
How it finished in 2025: Lost to Capuchino 5-3 in the first round of the CCS Division II playoffs.
No. 17 MENLO SCHOOL (24-8)
Final 2025 ranking: 20
How it finished in 2025: Beat Monterey 5-4 to capture the CCS Division V title. Beat Santa Clara 2-1 in the NorCal Division IV finals.
No. 18 DUBLIN (17-8)
Final 2025 ranking: 17
How it finished in 2025: Lost to Casa Grande 5-0 in the first round of the NCS Division I playoffs.
No. 19 CALIFORNIA (16-12)
Final 2025 ranking: 18
How it finished in 2025: Beat Marin Catholic to capture the NCS Division III championship. Lost to Roseville 9-4 in the first round of the NorCal Division III playoffs.
No. 20 PITTSBURG (19-6)
Final 2025 ranking: 19
How it finished in 2025: Lost to De La Salle 12-5 in the first round of the NCS Division I playoffs.
Teams eligible for Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school sports staff chooses the teams.
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